The Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation recently held that
an employee was entitled to benefits following a workplace injury. Additionally,
the Board in this
case found that the employee suffered wage loss and was entitled to temporary
partial disability benefits because his injury resulted in decreased earnings.
In making their
determination, the Board reviewed the employee's credibility as well
as supportive medical evidence to reach these findings.

Employer in this matter had at least 12 employees, and the Board stated
that Employer was therefore subject to the Georgia Workers' Compensation
Act. Employee stated that he worked for Employer as a roofer, and on September
22, 2014, he fell 25 feet off the roof where he was working. He suffered
injuries to his left ankle, left leg, left wrist, chest, and lower back.
That day, or the following day, Employee notified his supervisor of the
accident and his resulting injury. The Board stated that Employer therefore
had notice of the alleged workplace injury.

Under the Georgia Workers' Compensation Act, the Board held that Employer
was liable to pay benefits to Employee as as result of the injury. Following
the injury, Employee stopped working for Employer. He became disabled
as of December 7, 2014 due to his injury, and he remained totally disabled
until January 15, 2015, when he returned to work for Employer.

Employee's pain was allegedly so severe that on January 30, 2015, he
stopped working for Employer. The Board held that Employee was totally
disabled from that period until June 8, 2015, when he began to work as
a waiter for another employer. On June 12, 2015, Employee stopped working
due to the severity of his pain.

The Board, basing the decision on Employee's credible testimony and
supportive medical evidence, stated that Employee had remained totally
disabled due to his injuries since June 13, 2015. Under O.C.G.A. §34-9-261,
Employer needed to pay Employee temporary total disability benefits from
December 8, 2014 to January 16, 2015, from January 30, 2015 to June 8,
2015, and again from June 13, 2015 to the date of the hearing.

Medical expenses that were incurred and reasonably required to effect a
cure, or give relief, were to be provided by Employer. O.C.G.A. §34-9-200(a).

Regarding Employee's claim for partial wage disability benefits, the
Board stated that a worker is entitled to these benefits if his disability
is partial in character and temporary in quality. O.C.G.A. §34-9-262.
Here, Employee suffered wage loss due to his injured condition when he
returned to work for Employer from January 16 to January 30, 2015. He
also suffered wage loss when he worked as a waiter for the restaurant
from June 9 to June 12, 2015. The Board stated that, since he could not
earn as much as before, due to his injury, he suffered wage loss. The
Board held Employer must pay temporary partial disability benefits.

Additionally, the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation ruled
that Employee was entitled to recover $3,750.00 in attorney's fees,
which was determined to be the fair and reasonable fee for attorney services.

If you suffered an injury at a Georgia workplace, you should discuss your
rights with a knowledgeable
workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a confidential consultation
with a caring Atlanta workers' compensation lawyer, do not hesitate
to call the Law Offices of Nathaniel F. Hansford at (770) 922-3660 or
contact us through our website today.

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or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.